Puzzle cube

ABSTRACT

A puzzle cube includes a core having a plurality of center cubies movably associated thereto, a plurality of edge cubies, and a plurality of corner cubies, each of the center, edge and corner cubies having respectively one, two and three facelets in view. The core includes a plurality of turrets, to which the center cubies are rotatably engaged, and each edge cubie is rotatably draggable with one of the two center cubies, the facelet of which is coplanar with one of the two facelets of the edge cubie. Each corner cubie is rotatably draggable with one of the three center cubies, the facelet of which is coplanar with one of the three facelets of the corner cubie, and each of the facelets of the edge cubies and of the corner cubies can change from an inactive condition to an active condition when coplanar to a facelet of a predetermined center cubie, with which it is associated. The active and inactive conditions of the facelets are distinguishable, and in the inactive condition the facelets are indistinguishable from each other.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a puzzle cube with facelets having conditional identification.

The present invention finds useful use in the field of puzzles, and in particular of what is known as twisty puzzles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Puzzle type brain teasers are known in the state of the art, for example Rubik's cube type brain teasers.

In particular, a well-known traditional Rubik's cube is a so-called 3×3×3 cube, i.e., one in which each of the six faces forming the cube is subdivided into nine facelets belonging to different cubies.

The cubies bearing the facelets are movable by means of rotational movements with respect to an inner central body, or core, to be moved with respect to the others.

Each facelet is associated with a predetermined color, for a total of six distinct colors, so that when the cube is solved, each face of the Rubik's cube is composed of facelets colored with the same color.

In other words, the cube is solved when all the facelets of the same color are positioned on a single face.

Disadvantageously, for some players this type of puzzle is easy to solve and therefore not very stimulating.

Numerous variations of the traditional Rubik's cube have been proposed, such as 4×4×4, 5×5×5 cubes or even beyond. In such cubes, the difficulty of the resolution increases as the number of facelets increases.

Further, puzzles of the same type are known, in which the facelet movement system is analogous to that described above, but with other polyhedral shapes with respect to a cubical one.

Again, puzzles of the same type are known, in which the association of a facelet with a given face of the polyhedron occurs by means of obvious alternative features to color, such as different tactile finishes, or particular shape or size correspondences of the cubies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The task underlying the present invention is to provide a puzzle cube which is stimulating and has a greater and more varied degree of solution difficulty with respect to the known puzzle cubes.

It is in particular an object of the present invention to provide a puzzle cube whose resolution is different from, and more complex with respect to the traditional puzzle cubes, and thus more stimulating and interesting for a player.

The above-mentioned task, as well as the objects mentioned and others which will become apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a puzzle cube as described herein.

Other features and advantages are also described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages will become clearer from the description of preferred but not exclusive embodiments of a puzzle cube shown only by way of a non-limiting example with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a puzzle cube in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows the main components of the cube of FIG. 1 , and in particular a center cubie, an edge cubie and a corner cubie, as well as part of the inner core;

FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the core of the cube of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 shows a cutaway of the core of FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, from above, of the cube of FIG. 1 , with the top parts removed;

FIG. 6 is a plan view from above of the cube of FIG. 5 ;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cube of FIG. 1 , in a cutaway view;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of part of the cube of FIG. 1 , sectioned in a vertical plane passing through the center of the cube;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the cube shown in FIG. 7 ;

FIG. 10 illustrates an enlargement of FIG. 6 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the accompanying figures, a puzzle cube is described hereinafter, denoted by reference number 100.

The puzzle cube illustrated in the accompanying figures, and described below, is of the 3×3×3 type, but the invention is also applicable to puzzle cubes of different shapes and sizes.

The puzzle cube 100 comprises a core 1 to which a plurality of center cubies 3, a plurality of edge cubies 5 and a plurality of corner cubies 7 are movably associated.

The center 3, edge 5, and corner 7 cubies form the six faces 60 of the cube.

In particular, there are six center cubies 3, twelve edge cubies 5 and eight corner cubies 7.

Each of the center cubies 3 comprises a facelet 30 in view.

Each of the edge cubies 5 comprises two facelets 50, 51 in view.

Each of the corner cubies 7 comprises three facelets 70, 71, 72 in view.

“In view” means that the facelets are visible and accessible to a player.

In fact, it should be noted that four facelets 50, 51 of the edge cubies and four facelets of the corner cubies 70, 71 and one facelet 30 of the center cubie define a face 60 of the puzzle cube 100. In other words, each face 60 of the puzzle cube 100 is defined by nine facelets 30, 50, 51, 70, 71.

In more detail, the core 1 comprises a plurality of turrets 10 to which the center cubies 3 are rotatably engaged. The turrets 10 extend away from the core 1 along three orthogonal axes X, Y, Z, i.e., each perpendicular to the six faces 60 of the cube 100.

It should be noted that each of the edge cubies 5 is selectively rotatably draggable with one of the two center cubies 3 whose facelet 30 is coplanar to one of the two facelets 50, 51 of the edge cubie 5.

It should further be noted that each of the corner cubies 7 is selectively rotatably draggable with one of the three center cubies 3 whose facelet 30 is coplanar to one of the three facelets 70, 71, 72 of the corner cubie 7.

In particular, the center cubies 3 are configured to rotate with respect to the axis X, Y, Z thereof.

In essence, the rotation of the cubies 3, 5 and 7 defining a face 60 of cube 100 occurs around the turret 10 onto which the center cubie 3 associated with that specific face 60 engages.

Each center cubie 3 has four inner side walls, i.e., not visible from the outside when the cube 100 is completely assembled. The inner walls of the center cubie 3 are configured to face the corresponding inner side walls of the edge cubies 5 adjacent to the center cubie 3, i.e., positioned on the same face 60 of the cube 100.

Similarly, each edge cubie 5 has four inner side walls, i.e., not visible from the outside when cube 100 is completely assembled.

Of these four inner side walls, two are configured to face the corresponding inner side walls of the center cubies 3 which have facelets 30 coplanar to the two facelets 50, 51 of that edge cubie 5 and two other inner side walls are configured to face the inner side walls of two adjacent corner cubies 7.

Each corner cubie 7 instead has three inner walls, i.e., not visible from the outside when the cube 100 is assembled. Such inner walls face the corresponding inner walls of the three adjacent edge cubies 5.

Optionally, to favor the alignment between the various edge 5 and corner 7 cubies, the puzzle cube 100 can comprise pairs of magnets (not shown) placed at such inner side walls. Preferably, the pairs of magnets are placed straddling the edge cubies 5 and the corner cubies 7. In particular, the cube 100 preferably comprises at least a first magnet placed inside each inner side wall of each edge cubie 5 facing a corner cubie 7, and at least a second magnet placed inside each inner side wall of each corner cubie 7, where the first magnet can be facing the second magnet and can be configured to couple therewith.

Each center 3, edge 5 and corner 7 cubie also has a respective base 300, 500, 700.

In particular, the base 300 of the center cubie 3 is configured to couple with a turret 10, in order to engage the center cubie 3 to the turret 10. Each base 300 of each center cubie 3 is rotatable with respect to the turret 10 to which it is coupled.

The base 500 of the edge cubie 5 and the base 700 of the corner cubie 7 are instead configured to prevent the respective cubies from moving away from the core, i.e., to keep them slidingly associated with the core 1, even when the face 60 of the cube 100 on which such cubies 5, 7 are positioned is rotated. In particular, the base 500 of the edge cubie 5 and the base 700 of the corner cubie 7 are configured so as to be at least partially interposed between the center cubie 3 and the core 1, so that the center cubie 3 prevents the distancing thereof in the radial direction while allowing it to slide in the tangential direction during rotation.

Each of the facelets 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 of the edge cubies 5 and of the corner cubies 7 is enabled to switch from an inactive condition to an active condition when it is coplanar to a facelet 30 of a predetermined center cubie 3 with which it is associated.

In more detail, the active condition of the facelets 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 can be distinguished from the inactive condition of the facelets 50, 51, 70, 71, 72.

In other words, the facelets 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 are presented in two different manners, distinguishable from each other, in the active condition or in the inactive condition.

Suitably, each of the facelets 30 of the center cubies 3 is also enabled to switch from an inactive to an active condition.

In the following description it is assumed, with specific reference to the described embodiment, that the facelets 30 of the center cubies 3 have this enabling feature for switching from the inactive condition to the active condition, but the invention also applies to puzzle cubes whose facelets 30 of the center cubies 3 lack this enabling characteristic, since such facelets 30 can also always be in an active condition (when the cube 100 is in operation), or also always in a passive condition, i.e., permanently not characterized by any specific identity, such as a color.

It should further be noted that the inactive condition is the same for each of the facelets 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 so that in the inactive condition the facelets 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 are indistinguishable from the others. The active and inactive condition of the facelets 30 of the center cubies 3 is suitably the same as the facelets 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 of the edge cubies 5 and the corner cubies 7, so that, in the inactive condition, the facelets 30 of the center cubies 3 are also indistinguishable from the other facelets 50, 51, 70, 71, 72.

In the active condition, the facelets 30, 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 may or may not be distinguishable from each other, as explained below, but in any case, distinguishable from the inactive condition.

It should also be noted that the transition of a facelet 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 of the edge cubies 5 and corner cubies 7 from the inactive to the active condition may require additional conditions beyond being coplanar to the facelet 30 of the predetermined center cubie 3, as described below.

Instead with regard to the facelets 30 of the center cubies 3, the transition from the inactive condition to the active condition is preferably enabled in relation to a single condition, for example the specific position of rotation of the center cubie 3 around the relative turret 10, as discussed in more detail below.

When one or more of these conditions fail, the facelets 30, 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 return to the inactive condition.

It should also be noted that, in the puzzle cube 100 in accordance with the present invention, the belonging of each facelet 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 of the edge 5 and corner 7 cubies to a respective face 60 of the cube 100, i.e., the final position of each facelet 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 when the cube is solved, is not known a priori. In fact, each facelet 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 appears identical to the others in the inactive condition. The correct position of the facelets 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 becomes known when the facelet 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 is in the active condition, i.e., only when certain conditions occur.

Such conditions are different for the facelets 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 of the edge 5 and corner 7 cubies with respect to the facelets 30 of the center cubies 3, as shown above.

According to certain operative game configurations, a single facelet 50, 51, 70, 71 of the edge 5 and corner 7 cubies is individually enabled to switch from the inactive condition to the active condition when it is coplanar to the facelet 30 of the predetermined center cubie 3 with which it is associated.

According to a different operating configuration, all the facelets 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 of an edge cubie 5 or of a corner cubie 7 are enabled to switch simultaneously from the inactive condition to the active condition when each facelet 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 of such an edge 5 or corner 7 cubie is coplanar to the facelet 30 of the predetermined center cubie 3 with which it is associated. In particular, the cube 100 is configured so that a facelet 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 of the edge 5 and corner 7 cubies only switches into the active condition if all the facelets 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 belonging to the same edge 5 or corner 7 cubie are coplanar to the respective facelet 30 of the predetermined center cubie 3 with which they are associated.

Always in accordance with the present invention, each facelet 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 comprises at least one light source 9. In detail, in the active condition each facelet 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 is illuminated. Optionally, as mentioned above, the facelets 30 of the center cubies 3 also comprise at least one light source 9 and are thus configured to illuminate in the active condition.

The feature according to which each facelet 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 comprises at least one light source 9 means that each facelet 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 can be enlightened by at least a light source 9, irrespective of the position of such light source 9 inside the puzzle cube 100.

At least one light source 9 takes the form of an LED, for example. Such an LED is configured to either switch on, illuminating in a predetermined color, or switch off. It should be noted that when the LED is off, the respective facelet 30, 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 is in the inactive state.

Accordingly, in the active condition each facelet 30, 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 is illuminated by means of at least one light source 9.

The facelets 30, 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 can therefore be semi-transparent, so that the color of the underlying LED can be seen, or the LEDs can be arranged on the surface of the facelets 30, 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 themselves.

It should be noted that, in accordance with the present invention, all the LEDs appear the same when switched off.

Thereby, each facelet 30, 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 in the inactive condition, i.e., not illuminated, is indistinguishable from the other facelets 30, 50, 51, 70, 71, 72.

Each facelet can comprise two or more light sources 9.

More details on the light sources 9 will be provided later in the present description.

It should be noted that the cube 100 comprises a battery 11 and a voltage regulator 12 in the core 1.

The voltage regulator 12 is configured to draw voltage from the battery 11 and electrically power the at least one light source 9 of each facelet 30, 50, 51, 70, 71, 72.

Preferably, between each turret 10 and the center cubies 3, contacts are provided which are configured to carry power to the cubies 3, 5 and 7, i.e., to the light sources 9 associated with the facelets 30, 50, 51, 70, 71, 72.

Each center cubie 3 is configured to be oriented, by means of rotation, in four positions with respect to the respective turret 10.

The four positions are solely understood as the four limit positions in which the center cubies 3, and thus the relative edge 5 and corner 7 cubies with which they are movably associated, are arranged so that they are aligned with each other to form the cubic shape of the cube 100.

The center cubie 3 is rotatable from one position to the other by means of a 90° rotation.

Preferably, in at least one of such four positions, the center cubie 3 is electrically disconnected from the voltage regulator 12. Such at least one position is defined as a switching off orientation. The complementary positions are defined as activation orientations.

Consequently, as mentioned above, the condition for enabling the switching from the active to the inactive condition for a facelet 30 of a center cubie 3 is unique and can be that the center cubie 3 is in an activation orientation, i.e., in an orientation other than the switching-off orientation.

In other words, the single facelet 30 of each center cubie 3 is configured to switch from the inactive condition to the active condition when the corresponding center cubie 3 is moved to a position other than the switching-off orientation.

In accordance, a facelet 30 of a center cubie 3 remains in the active condition as long as the center cubie 3 is in an orientation other than the switching-off orientation, and switches from the active condition to the inactive condition when the center cubie 3 is brought into the switching-off orientation by a player.

It should further be noted that the electrical power proceeds from the core 1 to the center cubies 3, then from each center cubie 3 to the four edge cubies 5 adjacent thereto, and finally from each edge cubie 5 to the corner cubies 7 adjacent thereto it, as shown in FIG. 10 by the black arrows.

Advantageously, it is possible to switch off the puzzle cube 100 by rotating all the center cubies 3 into the position in which they are electrically disconnected from voltage regulator 12.

In other words, all the facelets 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 of the edge 5 and corner 7 cubies are in the inactive condition when the center cubie 3 to which they are coplanar is in the switching-off orientation, even if they are coplanar to the facelet 30 of the predetermined center cubie 3.

Preferably the puzzle cube 100 comprises position identification means, configured to recognize whether a facelet 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 of an edge cubie 5 or a corner cubie 7 is coplanar to the facelet 30 of the predetermined center cubie 3 with which it is associated, and accordingly enabling the switching of each of the facelets 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 of the edge cubies 5 and of the corner cubies 7 from the inactive condition to the active condition.

In order for the facelets 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 of the edge cubies 5 and corner cubies 7 to effectively switch from the inactive to the active condition, the further condition mentioned above, in addition to coplanarity with the facelet 30 of the center cubie 3, is that the respective center cubie 3 is not positioned in a switching-off orientation.

More details regarding the position identification means are explained later in the present description.

Three operative game configurations are described below in which the first of the three is optionally included in the invention in combination with one of the two remaining operative game configurations, which can also co-exist in the invention.

According to a first operative game configuration, optionally included in the invention, hereinafter also referred to as the “colors configuration”, all the nine facelets 30, 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 defining a face 60 (or at least the eight facelets 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 excluded the center facelet 30) are configured to illuminate, when the cube 100 is resolved, in a single color so that each face 60 is illuminated in a respective color. The cube 100 therefore has a total of six colors (e.g., white, yellow, orange, red, green, blue). Each facelet 30, 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 is thus configured to illuminate with one of such six colors.

In accordance with such a first operative configuration, the color of each facelet 30, 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 is uniquely defined. For example, the color of the facelet can be uniquely defined by the light source 9 inserted therein, and in particular by the LED. Such a color cannot be changed.

The facelets 30, 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 of a face 60 are thus distinguishable from those of another face 60 when in the active condition. The facelets 30 of the center cubies 3 are configured to activate in the “colors” configuration when rotated in a specific orientation among the four possible angular orientations. Instead, the facelets 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 of the edge 5 and corner 7 cubies are in the active configuration simply if they are coplanar to a facelet of a center cubie 3 which is in the active condition according to the “colors” game configuration, i.e., if the center cubie 3 is in the orientation which activates the corresponding facelet 30 in the “colors” operative configuration. In practice, according to the “colors” game configuration, an entire face 60 illuminates with the various colors associated with the facelets 30, 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 if the facelet 30 of the center cubie 3 in the face 60 is in the active condition according to the “colors” configuration. In other words, in the “colors” configuration, the facelets 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 are not required to be coplanar with facelet 30 of the predetermined center cubie 3 in order to be in the active condition, but coplanarity with a facelet 30 whose center cubie 3 is enabled according to the “colors” operative game configuration is sufficient.

In accordance with a second operative game configuration, hereafter also referred to as the “special easy configuration”, all the facelets 30, 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 of all the faces 60 of the cube 100, when the cube 100 is solved, are configured to preferably illuminate in one and the same color (e.g., cyan). Consequently, the facelets 30, 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 even of different faces 60 are indistinguishable from each other when in the active condition. In particular, all the light sources 9 are configured to illuminate in the same color. In particular, a single facelet 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 illuminates if it is coplanar to the facelet 30 of the predetermined center cubie 3, assuming that the respective facelet 30 of the center 3 is in the active condition.

In accordance with a third operative game configuration, hereafter also referred to as the “special hard configuration”, all the facelets 30, 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 of all the faces 60 are configured to preferably illuminate, when the cube 100 is solved, in one and the same color (e.g., magenta). Consequently, the facelets 30, 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 even of different faces 60 are indistinguishable from each other when in the active condition. In particular, all the light sources 9 are configured to illuminate the same color in the active condition. The difference with the second operative configuration is that in the third “special hard” operative configuration, all the facelets 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 of an edge cubie 5 or a corner cubie 7 are only enabled to switch simultaneously from the inactive condition to the active condition when all the facelets 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 of the same single edge cubie 5 or corner cubie 7 are simultaneously coplanar to the facelet 30 of the predetermined center cubie 3 with which they are respectively associated.

Therefore, the puzzle cube 100 preferably only has one color overall in both the second “special easy” and the third “special hard” operative condition.

As anticipated, the three operative game configurations described above can also co-exist in twos or threes in the puzzle cube 100 according to the present invention. In particular, the cube 100 according to the present invention can be configured to operate:

-   -   only according to the “special easy” operative configuration;     -   only according to the “special hard” operative configuration;     -   in both the “special easy” and “special hard” operative         configurations.

In addition, in the aforesaid three cases, the “colors” operative configuration can also be envisaged.

In accordance, there are preferably as many light sources 9 as there are configurations for each facelet 30, 50, 51, 70, 71 (or light sources capable of generating as many different colors as there are configurations for each facelet 30, 50, 51, 70, 71, such as digitally driven RGB LEDs).

In accordance, optionally, in addition to a first switching-off orientation, for each center cubie 3 there are provided at least two among: a first orientation in which the first “color” configuration is active, a second orientation in which the second “special easy” configuration is active, a third orientation in which the third “special hard” configuration is active. In this sense, each of the four orientations corresponds to the switching off of the respective face 60 or the activation of one of the three aforesaid configurations.

As an alternative, the puzzle cube 100 comprises at least two functioning configurations, namely an off configuration and at least one gaming configuration, and preferably three gaming configurations, such as the ones described as first “color” configuration, second “special easy” configuration and third “special hard” configuration, wherein such at least two functioning configurations are selectable by the user. Such selection can be made by a 360° rotation of one predefined face 60 within the six faces 60 of the puzzle cube 100. In other words, one face 60 of the six faces 60 is a master face. A 360° rotation of said master face around the respective turret 10 allows to switch the puzzle cube 100 cyclically from a functioning configuration to another according to a predefined sequence (i.e., off, color, easy, hard, and off again). A 360° counter-rotation allows to switch the puzzle cube 100 back to the previous configuration. A 360° rotation of the master face 60 does not interfere with the game that is played by the user. However, since it is possible that during the game, successive movements involve a 360° rotation of the master face, a predefined maximum time period is defined for the 360° rotation to be completed in order to allow switching to a different functioning configuration. Such maximum time period can be less than 2 seconds, preferably less than 1 second, and even more preferably less than 0.8 seconds.

Preferably, the center cubie 3 of the master face 60 comprises a data connection with the core 1, and the core 1 comprises a data connection with the center cubies 3 of the remaining five faces 60 of the puzzle cube 100 so as to instruct all the center cubies 3 about the selected functioning configuration.

Possibly all the faces 60 of the puzzle cube 100 can temporarily act as master faces, detecting the 360° rotation and instructing the other faces about the newly selected functioning configuration.

By means of further data connections, the center cubies 3 instruct all the facelets 30, 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 of the respective face 60 as to the selected functioning configuration.

The puzzle cube 100 in accordance with the present invention comprises a rechargeable battery 11.

Preferably, the core 1 has at least one hole 173, 177 configured to accommodate at least one pin 171, 175 of charging means 17. The at least one pin 171 is configured to electrically disconnect the battery 11 from the voltage regulator 12, so that the cube 100 is switched off, and to charge the battery 11.

The at least one pin 171 is further optionally configured to supply electrical power to the voltage regulator 12 to electrically power the light sources 9 by the charging means 17.

It is advantageously possible to keep the facelets 30, 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 illuminated, i.e., in the active condition, when the cube 100 is connected to said charging means 17, without discharging the battery 11 and regardless of whether the battery is being charged or not.

Preferably the core 1 is configured to accommodate multi-pin charging means 17.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 , one of the pins 175 is adapted to connect to the negative pole of battery 11. The other pin 171, which has two distinct and separate conductive surfaces, is adapted to intercept and interrupt the electrical circuit contained in the core 1 in the section which goes from the battery 11 to the voltage regulator 12, bringing each of its conductive surfaces into contact with one of the two portions into which the internal circuit is divided. Thereby, in addition to interrupting the power supply of the cube 100, switching it off completely, it is also possible to selectively and independently both charge the battery and provide external power to the voltage regulator 12, so that the facelets 30, 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 can be illuminated without using the battery 11. Thereby, the charging means 17 supply the voltage regulator 12 with power while keeping the cube 100 switched on, e.g., as an illuminated ornament, but without such supply coming from the battery 11, which can also be charged at the same time.

The puzzle cube 100 is preferably shaped so that there are gaps between a center cubie 3 and the edge 5 and corner 7 cubies. For example, the center 3, edge 5 and corner 7 cubies are chamfered at the edges, e.g., at their relative corners, so as to define such spaces.

Such gaps are configured to accommodate the pins 171, 175, and in particular at least one pin 171, 175, in the points where a center cubie 3, a corner cubie 7 and two edge cubies 5 are found close to each other.

Since the edge 5 and corner 7 cubies have the aforesaid bases 500, 700 which constrain their movement to the core 1, preferably, at least the bases 700 of all the corner cubies 7 or at least the bases 500 of all the edge cubies 5 are configured to allow the insertion of the aforesaid pin 171, 175. For example, as shown in FIG. 2 , such bases 500, 700 have at least one through hole 701, adapted to accommodate a pin 171, 175 so that this reaches the core 1 passing through the spaces between the cubies 3, 5, 7. It is advantageously possible for the pins 171, 175 of the charging means 17 to pass through the gaps between the cubies 3, 5 and 7, between the relative bases 300, 500, 700, possibly through the through holes 701, irrespective of the individual positions of the edge 5 or corner 7 cubies.

With reference to FIG. 2 , the bases 700 of the corner cubies 7 have three through holes 701 to accommodate two pins 171, 175, regardless of the position of the individual corner cubies 7.

In other words, the charging of the battery 11 contained in the core 1 is performed by means of pin contacts, i.e., the pins 171, 175, capable of inserting in the gaps remaining between the center 3, edge 5 and corner 7 cubies, and reaching the core 1 by passing through the special holes obtained in the core 1 and in the base 700 of one of the corner cubies 7, i.e., the holes 173, 177 and the through holes 701.

As an alternative, the charging means can comprise a three-pin connector wherein two of the pins are ground pins in electrical continuity with each other, and the third pin carries a positive pole. The short circuit caused by the insertion of the two ground pins in the printed circuit board in the core 1 interrupts the power supply to the rechargeable battery 11 of the puzzle cube 100. In this condition the battery consumption is essentially zero. The three-pin connector can be connected to an external electrical supply, for example by means of a usb-c connection so as to recharge the battery 11 and to provide electrical supply to the puzzle cube 100.A first embodiment of the present invention is described below.

In accordance with the first embodiment, the cube 100 comprises a plurality of pairs of electrical connectors 15, 15′, 15″.

Each pair of electrical connectors 15, 15′, 15″ comprises respective contacts having a respective pinout. Such a pinout is, for each pair of electrical connectors 15, 15′, 15″, configured to transmit electrical power from the voltage regulator 12 to the at least one light source 9 of at least each facelet 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 only when a facelet 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 of an edge cubie 5 or a corner cubie 7 is coplanar to the facelet 30 of the predetermined center cubie 3 with which it is associated. Optionally, the pinout is also configured to transmit electrical power to the light sources 9 of the facelets 30 of the center cubies 3, if provided.

In other words, the contacts have a respective distribution, according to a characteristic coding for each specific face 60 of the cube 100, which allows the passage of electrical power to the light sources 9.

In particular, each light source 9 is configured to switch on when electrically powered and to switch off when not electrically powered.

The pairs of electrical connector 15, 15′, 15″ are housed in mutual seats preferably obtained in the inner side walls of center 3, edge 5 and corner 7 cubies.

In such an embodiment, the electrical power proceeds as described above, i.e., for each face 60 of the cube 100, from the core 1 to the center cubie 3, from the center cubie 3 to the edge cubies 5, and from the edge cubies 5 to the corner cubies 7, by means of the electrical connectors 15, 15′, 15″. This is exemplified in FIG. 10 by the black arrows.

In detail, the pairs of electrical connectors 15, 15′, 15″ comprise:

-   -   first pairs of electrical connectors 15 arranged straddling         between the turrets 10 and the center cubies 3;     -   second pairs of electrical connectors 15′ arranged straddling         between the center cubie 3 and the edge cubies 5.     -   three pairs of connectors 15″ arranged straddling between the         edge cubies 5 and the corner cubies 7.

The first pairs of electrical connectors 15 comprise first contacts 151 arranged on each turret 10 and second contacts 152 arranged on the center cubies 3 engaged on the respective turret 10.

The first pairs of electrical connectors 15 basically coincide with the above-mentioned contacts placed between the turrets 10 and the center cubies 3.

For example, the first contacts 151 are male contacts while the second contacts 152 are female contacts. The male contacts 151 of the turret 10 are visible in FIG. 2 .

The second pairs of electrical connectors 15′ comprise first contacts 153 arranged on the center cubies 3 and respective second contacts 154 arranged on the edge cubies 5.

Each center cubie 3 comprises four groups of first contacts 153 of the second pairs of electrical connectors 15′, being adjacent to four edge cubies 5.

Instead, each edge cubie 5 comprises two groups of second contacts 154, being adjacent to two different center cubies 3.

For example, the first contacts 153 are female contacts while the second contacts 154 are male contacts. The male contacts 154 of the edge cubie are visible in FIG. 2 .

The third pairs of electrical connectors 15″ comprise first contacts 155 arranged on the edge cubies 5 and respective second contacts 156 arranged on the corner cubies 7.

Each edge cubie 5 comprises two sets of first contacts 155 of the third pairs of electrical connectors 15″, being adjacent to two corner cubies 7.

Instead, each corner cubie 7 comprises three groups of second contacts 156, being adjacent to three edge cubies 5.

For example, the first contacts 155 are female contacts while the second contacts 156 are male contacts. The male contacts 156 of the corner cubie 7 are visible in FIG. 2 .

The first and second contacts 151-156 face each other when the faces 60 of the cube 100 are in one of the four positions, and are configured to couple according to the specific pinout.

Preferably, the pairs of electrical connectors 15, 15′, 15″ comprise sliding contacts.

In accordance, the male contacts 151, 154, 156 of such pairs of electrical connectors 15, 15′, 15″ preferably comprise elastic contacts, e.g., contacts of the pogo pin type.

In particular, the male contacts 154, 156 protruding from an edge 5 or corner 7 cubie are placed at such a distance that they come into contact with the female contacts 153, 155 placed on a center 3 or edge 5 cubie, rubbing over them during the rotation of the cubies 3, 5, 7.

Advantageously, the elastic contacts can elastically adapt to different contact conditions, as the electrical contact is lost as a result of a player's manipulation of the various center 3, edge 5 and corner 7 cubies; such electrical contact is then re-established when the cubies 3, 5, 7 are realigned.

The distribution of contacts is such that, in the optional case in which the switching-off orientation is provided, no electrical contact occurs between the first contacts 151 of the turrets 10 and the second contacts 152 of the center cubies 3.

Preferably, the female contacts 152 of the first pair of electrical connectors 15, i.e., the contacts 152 on the center cubie 3, comprise arc-shaped pads (not shown in the accompanying figures). Such pads are made in the form of annulus sectors.

Preferably, the extension of the pads is defined so that the electrical contact, and thus the transmission of the electrical power, only occurs when the cubie 3, 5, 7 assumes certain angular orientations.

In particular, for the center cubies 3, the arc-shaped pads are essentially centered on the four possible angular orientations of the center cubies 3, as mentioned above.

Preferably, the pads are made so as to comprise an angular margin in both directions. Advantageously, the transmission of electrical power is also possible if the center cubies 3 are not perfectly positioned in one of the four positions.

Preferably, the female contacts 153, 155 of the second and third pairs of electrical connectors 15′ and 15″ also comprise pads, e.g., arc-shaped (not illustrated in the accompanying figures). Such female contacts 153, 155 can preferably comprise copper-plated vetronite sheets.

Preferably, the male contacts 151, 154 and 156 are made in three-pole or four-pole pogo pins in the case of at least the edge 5 and the corner 7 cubies. In particular, the male contacts 151 placed on the turrets 10 carry the two poles of the voltage regulator 12, positive and negative. Such male contacts 151 therefore take the form of pogo pins with at least two poles. In FIG. 2 , the male contacts 151 of the turret 10 are also pogo pins, but four-pole, having two disposable poles, so that the same types of contacts are used for all the connector pairs 15, 15′, 15″

The male contacts 154 and 156 of the second and third pairs of connectors 15′ and 15″ instead comprise at least three poles. The positive and negative voltages are assigned to two of these, leaving the third pole unconnected, in one of six possible combination modes, thus making a distinctive configuration for each center cubie 3, i.e., the coding mentioned above.

Suitably, diodes are also provided, which prevent the passage of electrical current when the facing male and female contacts of second or third pairs of connectors 15′ and 15″ have respective pinouts which provide the same pole not connected and the two positive and negative poles swapped. In other words, the diodes protect the light source 9 from the reverse power supply.

In order to obtain a solution in which all the facelets 30, 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 on the same face 60 are simultaneously in the inactive condition, the pads contained in the center cubies 3 are shaped so that in one of the four possible angular orientations of each center cubie 3 the electrical power from the battery 11 is interrupted. When all six center cubies 3 are deprived of electrical power, given the power distribution in the cube 100 in accordance with the present invention, all the edge cubies 5 and the corner cubies 7 are also deprived of power. Advantageously, in such a configuration none of the light sources 9 of the facelets 30, 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 can illuminate.

In accordance with the first embodiment of the puzzle cube 100 described above, the above-mentioned position identification means comprise such a plurality of pairs of electrical connectors 15, 15′, 15″. Preferably, the position identification means are made with the pairs of electrical connectors 15, 15′, 15″.

In fact, the arrangement of the electrical connectors 15, 15′, 15″ only allows the electrical power to flow if the center 3, edge 5 and corner 7 cubies are in the correct position, i.e., paired so as to form correct pairs, i.e., of equal coding, based on the position of the cubies 3, 5, 7.

Furthermore, the edge cubies 5 are also responsible for transmitting the electrical power to the corner cubies 7. In this sense, they act as electrical power repeaters by suitably transferring the power supply poles from the second pair of connectors 15′ between center cubie 3 and edge cubie 5 to the third pair of connectors 15′ present between edge cubie 5 and corner cubie 7.

Accordingly, the corner cubie 7 draws the electrical power by means of the third pair of electrical connectors 15″ and supplies it to the LED of the facelet 70, 71, 72 coplanar to the facelet 30 of the center cubie 3 in question to cause the switching on thereof.

Preferably, the power supply coming from a center cubie 3 and entering an edge cubie 5 proceeds towards the corner cubie 7 in a direction which is the same for all the corner cubies 7, for example the anti-clockwise direction, as depicted in FIG. 10 . In other words, each edge cubie 5 sees to powering only one of the two corner cubies 7 adjacent thereto, proceeding in a predetermined direction.

Advantageously this thereby ensures consistency and completeness of power supply on the entire face 60 of the cube 100 and equally on all the faces 60 of the cube 100.

In the case of the “special easy” configuration, the center cubies 3 have the arc-shaped pads shaped to draw electrical power at least in one of the four angular positions of the center cubie 3. Such power supply is directed to the light source 9 by means of molded tracks and/or wiring. Thereby the light source 9, i.e., specifically the LED, is illuminated in its own color.

The edge 5 and corner 7 cubies are in turn wired so as to bring the power supply to their LEDs of the “special easy” game configuration only by drawing power supply from the correct poles based on the coding of the face 60 to which each of the two facelets 50, 51 or the three facelets 70, 71, 72 belongs.

In order to obtain the functionality of the facelets 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 of the edge 5 and corner 7 cubies described above, each time the center cubie 3 is in an orientation enabling the “special easy” game configuration, the arc-shaped pads draw electrical power and this is brought by means of the second pairs of contacts 15″ and the third pairs of contacts 15″ in a characteristic manner for each center cubie 3.

If a facelet 50, 51 of an edge cubie 5 does not belong, according to the “special easy” game configuration, to the face 60 on which it is located at that time, the power supply configuration made available by the center cubie 3 and its power withdrawal configuration will not match. The facelet 50, 51, does not recognize the coding of the center cubie 3 to which it is adjacent and cannot switch into the active configuration. As mentioned above, the task of the edge cubies 5 is also to act as a repeater, carrying the coded power supply from the electrical contacts 15 of the center cubie 3 to the electrical contacts 15″ of the corner cubies 7. The three poles of the second pair of electrical connectors 15′ are connected to the three poles of the third pair of electrical connectors 15″, according to the convention that the path from a center cubie 3 to an edge cubie 5 continues to the corner cubie 7 in a specific direction (in FIG. 10 , to the left). Thereby, the facelets 70, 71, 72 of the corner cubies 7 can recognize the coding of the center cubie 3 to which they are coplanar by virtue of the extension action performed within the edge cubies 5.

When the necessary conditions for the third game configuration, known as “special hard”, occur, all the facelets 50, 51 or 70, 71, 72 respectively of an edge 5 or corner 7 cubie simultaneously switch into the active condition.

The description of the embodiment of the center cubies described above for the “special easy” game configuration applies unchanged to the “special hard” and “colors” game configurations: in one of the possible angular orientations the center cubie 3 of each face 60 illuminates in the characteristic color of the particular game configuration, drawing power from specially shaped arc-shaped pads and directing it to the appropriate LED.

When in an enabling position for the “special hard” game configuration, the power supply drawn from the core 1 is routed to the first four pairs of electrical connectors 15 with the characteristic coding for that center cubie 3.

Inside each edge 5 or corner 7 cubie, a more stringent check is performed to ensure that all the facelets 50, 51 or 70, 71, 72 of an edge 5 or corner 7 cubie are coplanar to the facelet 30 of the predetermined center cubie 3, so that they are enabled to switch into the active condition.

In particular, an edge cubie 5 is configured to check that on both of its second pairs of electrical connectors 15′, i.e., placed between the same edge cubie 5 and the two center cubies 3 having the facelets 30 coplanar to the facelets 50, 51 of the edge cubie 5, the electrical power is available. According to the third “special hard” game configuration, an edge cubie 5 must recognize both codings of the center cubies 3 to which its two facelets 50, 51 correspond. Preferably, to do this, each edge cubie 5 comprises a circuit board provided with two pairs of inputs. Each of such pairs is connected to one of the two second pairs of electrical connectors 15′, and more specifically is connected to the two poles of the second contacts where, according to the specific coding, the positive and negative voltages are expected. The circuit board is designed to provide illumination to both light sources 9 of the edge cubie if: positive voltage is present on the first pad of the first input pair; negative voltage is present on the second pad of the first input pair; negative voltage is present on the first pad of the second input pair; positive voltage is present on the second pad of the second input pair.

The failure of one of these conditions prevents the passage of electrical current, thus the LEDs will only ever illuminate if there is a full and correctly encoded electrical supply to both inputs.

As in the case of the “special easy” game configuration, the edge cubies 5 also have a repeater function in the “special hard” game configuration. Thereby, the corner cubies 7 also have the opportunity to receive the power supply and recognize the coding of the center cubie 3 which emitted it.

The verification of the conditions for the “special hard” game configuration within a corner cubie 7 is carried out in a similar manner to the edge cubie 5. In addition, the check of the correct positioning of a corner cubie 7 is preferably obtained by verifying the positioning of two out of three facelets 70, 71. In fact, this is sufficient to ensure that the entire corner cubie 7 fits. In fact, when two facelets 70, 71 are correctly positioned, the third facelet 72 is also necessarily correctly positioned.

If the switching-off orientation option or the presence of the game mode in the “colors” configuration is also contemplated, it is necessary to confirm not only that the third facelet 72 is also in position, a fact as mentioned already ensured by the correct positioning of the first two facelets 70, 71, but also that the facelet 30 of the center cubie 3 coplanar thereto does not control the switching off thereof, being rotated to the switching-off orientation, or its switching on according to the “colors” configuration, being rotated in the relative orientation. For this purpose, a circuit board mentioned above present for the edge cubies 5, is also in the corner cubies 7. Such a circuit board is analogous for both edge cubies 5 and corner cubies 7, and is provided, in the case of corner cubies 7, with a further input pad which verifies that the negative voltage in the expected position according to the “special hard” game configuration also originates from the third center cubie 3 whose facelet 30 is coplanar to the third facelet 72 of the corner cubie 7.

In the case of an advantageously identical circuit board for edge 5 and corner 7 cubies, the third control pad which expects a negative voltage, in the edge cubies 5, is bridged to one of the other two pads which expect the same negative voltage, so that the additional control becomes redundant with those already performed.

Preferably, in order for the three game configurations “colors”, “special easy” and “special hard” to coexist on the same cube 100, by arranging only four poles for each pair of electrical connectors 151, 153, 155, the following superimpositions are obtained.

Firstly, the “special easy” and “special hard” configurations share the same coding of the center cubies 3, i.e., a center cubie 3 has the same coding for both the “special easy” and “special hard” configurations. Thereby, the electrical power coded for the two configurations “special easy” and “special hard” can run on the same pole triad. The edge 5 and corner 7 cubies are preferably wired to respond positively to different codings according to the “special easy” or “special hard” configuration.

Secondly, of the two poles required for the power supply according to the “colors” game configuration, one is shared with the two “special” configurations. When the “special” triad is supplied, the excluded of the “colors” pair is not powered and this prevents unwanted switching on of the light sources 9 according to the “colors” game configuration.

Conversely, when the “colors” pair is supplied only one of the poles of the “special” triad is supplied, and this is insufficient to cause LEDs to illuminate according to “special easy” or “special hard”.

A second embodiment of the present invention is described below.

In accordance with the second embodiment, each center cubie 3 is configured to generate a respective signal, preferably digital. Each edge cubie 5 and each corner cubie 7 comprises a respective recognition unit. In particular, each recognition unit is configured to recognize the signal coming from a center cubie 3 and to enable, based on the signal, each of the facelets 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 of the edge cubies 5 and corner cubies 7 to switch from the inactive to the active condition.

According to the second embodiment, the position identification means can, for instance, comprise a plurality of such recognition units.

In fact, the recognition unit, recognizing the specific signal coming from the center cubie 3, allows the positioning of each center 3, edge 5 or corner 7 cubie to be extrapolated, and in particular of each facelet 30, 50, 51, 70, 71, 72.

In accordance with such an embodiment, the center cubies 3 provide the electrical power to the edge 5 and corner 7 cubies according to the same scheme as described for the first embodiment, i.e., the center cubie 3 of the face 60 communicates with the four adjacent edge cubies 5, which in turn act as repeaters for one corner cubie 7 each.

The electrical power supply to the center 3, edge 5 and corner 7 cubies occurs by means of the contacts between the turret 10 and the center cubies 3. In particular, such contacts in such an embodiment provide two pins, which are designated for the supply of electrical power.

The electrical power supply can always occur or, optionally, the switching-off orientation can be provided as described with reference to the first embodiment. In such a case, the electrical power to the edge 5 and corner 7 cubies of the face 60 is interrupted when the center cubie 3 is rotated in the switching-off orientation.

In accordance with such an embodiment, the contacts further comprise a third pin by means of which the center cubie 3 sends the above-mentioned signal, which is repeated from the edge cubies 5 to the corner cubies 7. Alternatively, the above-mentioned signal is transmitted on one or both of the pins carrying the electrical power. Also in this embodiment the center cubies 3 can be provided with arc-shaped pads to allow the rotational position of the same center cubies 3 to be read. Based on the orientation, a center cubie 3 not only illuminates itself in the appropriate color, but also emits a digital signal which is preferably different for each orientation. Such a signal can for example be a PWM modulation wave, a Morse code, a square wave with proprietary coding or still others.

Preferably, such a digital signal could be a signal corresponding to a single character transmitted repeatedly according to the RS-232 serial communication standard. In this case, such repeatedly transmitted signals could be the following:

-   -   no signal, i.e., “off”, in the event of a cube 100 switched off;     -   number 0, in the event of a cube 100 in the “colors” game         operative configuration;     -   numbers from 1 to 6, in the event of the cube 100 in the         “special easy” or “special hard” operating configuration as         explained below.

Each edge cubie 5 includes a microcontroller (not shown), which is powered when the supply of electricity is available on at least one of the two facelets 50, 51. The microcontroller also receives the two digital signals and drives the illumination of the LEDs, one per facelet 50, 51, also determining the color thereof.

Similarly, each corner cubie 7 also comprises a microcontroller (not shown), which is powered when the supply of electricity is available on at least one of the three facelets 70, 71, 72. The microcontroller also receives the three digital signals and drives the illumination of the LEDs, one per facelet 70, 71, 72, also determining the color thereof.

When the microcontroller of an edge cubie 5 or corner cubie 7 reads the signal corresponding to the “colors” configuration, i.e., the character 0, it drives the illumination of the corresponding light source 9, i.e., the LED of the facelet 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 coplanar to the center cubie 3 from which such a signal originates, of its characteristic color according to the “colors” solution, regardless of the fact that such a facelet is at that moment coplanar to the facelet 30 of the predetermined center cubie 3 with which it is associated. For example, the center cubie 3 with the facelet 30 illuminated in green emits the aforesaid signal of character 0 to the peripheral cubies 5, 7 and thus causes the illumination of the eight facelets 50, 70 coplanar thereto in that moment, which can assume different colors.

When the microcontroller reads a “special” signal, i.e., a signal corresponding to a character from 1 to 6 depending on the center cubie 3 which generated it, it compares the identity of the center cubie 3 from which the signal originates with the identity of the facelet 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 coplanar to the facelet 30 of such center 3.

In the event of the “special easy” game operative configuration, it is sufficient for there to be a correspondence between the signal emitted by the center cubie 3 whose facelet 30 is coplanar to a facelet 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 and the signal of the predetermined center cubie 3 with which such a facelet 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 is associated, in order for the microcontroller to drive the switching on of the light source 9 of the facelet 50, 51, 70, 71, 72, for example, cyan.

For example, a facelet 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 which in the “special easy” game configuration is associated with the character 4, will illuminate cyan whenever it is coplanar to the facelet 30 of the center cubie 3 which is emitting a signal corresponding to the character 4, even if another facelet 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 of the same cubie 5, 7 does not benefit from a similar correspondence.

In the event of the “special hard” game operative configuration, the microcontroller is configured to verify that for all the facelets 50, 51 of an edge cubie 5 or all the facelets 70, 71 and 72 of a corner cubie 7 the correspondence is simultaneously obtained, and, if so, to drive the illumination of all the facelets 50, 51 or 70, 71 and 72 in the color associated with the “special hard” configuration, e.g., magenta. For example, the corner cubie 7 which has the facelets 70, 71 and 72 associated with the characters 1, 3 and 5 respectively, in the “special hard” game configuration, will illuminate magenta if and only if the three facelets 70, 71, 72 are simultaneously coplanar respectively to the facelets 30 of the center cubies 3 which are emitting a signal corresponding to the characters 1, 3 and 5. If, for example, even just the facelet 70 associated with the character 5 were coplanar to the facelet 30 of the wrong center cubie 3, the entire corner cubie 7 would not illuminate magenta. Or still, if the facelet 70 associated with the character 5 were coplanar to the facelet 30 of the right center cubie 3, which however is not emitting a signal corresponding to the character 5 (because it is set on “off” or “colors”) the entire corner cubie 7 cannot illuminate magenta.

Preferably, each facelet 30, 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 is associated:

-   -   with a first characteristic identity according to “colors”,         i.e., it has its own characteristic color;     -   with a specific second characteristic identity according to the         “special easy” configuration, and     -   with a specific third characteristic identity according to the         “special hard” configuration, where, however, for a single         facelet 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 the second characteristic identity         (i.e., in the example above, the character 1 to 6) is different         from the third characteristic identity. In other words, if a         given facelet 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 is associated with the         character 2 in the “special easy” configuration, it is         preferably associated with a character other than 2 in the         “special hard” configuration. This ensures that no facelet 30,         50, 51, 70, 71, 72 is required to light up simultaneously under         either the “special easy” (e.g., cyan) or “special hard” (e.g.,         magenta) configuration.

In accordance with a third embodiment, the puzzle cube 100 comprises means of detecting the orientation of each center cubie 3 for each turret 10. Such orientation detection means are configured to generate a signal indicative of the angular position of each center cubie 3 with respect to the respective turret 10.

For example, the orientation detection means comprise an encoder for each turret 10.

Again in accordance with such a third embodiment, the puzzle cube 100 further comprises a processing and control unit configured to receive and process all the signals indicative of the angular position of each center cubie 3 and to electrically power the at least one light source 9 of each facelet 30, 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 based on such processing.

In this third embodiment, therefore, there is a single processing and control unit, e.g., housed in the core 1, which decides which facelets 30, 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 to switch on and how to switch them on, based solely on the reading of the angular positions of the center cubies 3 with respect to the turrets 10, by means of the aforesaid orientation detection means (e.g., encoders). In this case, therefore, the peripheral edge 5 and corner 7 cubies do not have to compare their characteristic identity with the signal received from time to time by the center cubie 3 whose facelet 30 is coplanar to that of the edge 5 or corner 7 cubie of interest.

In other words, the light sources 9 of the facelets 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 of the peripheral edge 5 and corner 7 cubies receive the command to switch on or off directly from the processing and control unit in the core 1.

The light sources 9 of the peripheral facelets 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 (i.e., the facelets of the edge 5 and corner 7 cubies) can be positioned inside the respective edge 5 or corner 7 cubies.

Alternatively, the light sources 9 of the peripheral facelets 50, 51, 70, 71, 72 can be positioned inside the center cubie 3 and the light generated by the light sources 9 can be directed to the facelets 50, 51, 70, 71, 72, for example by means of light diffusers configured to drive the light from the light sources 9 in the center cubies 3 to the facelets.

In a still further alternative, a plurality of, or even all the light sources 9 are positioned inside the core 1 and the light generated by the light sources 9 can be directed to the facelets 30, 50, 51, 70, 71, 72, for example by means of light diffusers configured to drive the light from the light sources 9 in the core 1 to the facelets.

In accordance with this embodiment, in the case, for example, of the coexistence in the puzzle cube 100 of all three configurations “colors”, “special easy” and “special hard”, the processing and control unit can be configured to activate the first “colors” configuration when the center cubie 3 is rotated in the first orientation, activate the second “special easy” configuration when the center cubie 3 is rotated in the second orientation, activate the third “special hard” configuration when the center cubie 3 is oriented in the third orientation. The face 60 of cube 100 is instead completely switched off when the center cubie 3 whose face 30 is coplanar to the face 60 is rotated in the switching-off orientation.

According to a variant of the puzzle cube 100, the switching on and off of the cube 100 itself can be achieved by operating a special switch or button, present for example in one of the cubies 3, 5, 7. Similarly, the selection of different operative game configurations can also be made by pressing a special button or selector switch, present for example in one of the various cubies 3, 5, 7. In other words, the rotation of the center cubie 3 around the turret 10 on which it is engaged, according to this variant, entails neither the switching off of the face 60 of the cube 100, in a specific switching-off orientation, nor the switching, for the cubies 3, 5 and 7 associated with the face 60 of interest, between different game configurations depending on the different orientations assumed by the center cubie 3 of that face 60.

According to a further variant of the puzzle cube 100, the aforementioned switches or buttons used to switch on and off the cube 100 and to select the game configurations can be replaced by inertial sensors, such as accelerometers or gyroscopes.

In practice, the puzzle cube according to the present invention fulfils its intended purposes in that it presents a higher degree of solution difficulty with respect to the known cubes, and even introduces completely new and challenging game configurations for even the most experienced players.

The puzzle cube 100 thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants, without departing from the scope of the invention; moreover, all details are replaceable with other technically equivalent elements. In practice, the materials used, as long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the dimensions and the contingent shapes, may be any according to the technical requirements. 

1. A puzzle cube comprising: a core; and a plurality of center cubies, a plurality of edge cubies and a plurality of corner cubies movably associated to the core; wherein each of the center cubies comprises a facelet in view; wherein each of the edge cubies comprises two facelets in view; wherein each of the corner cubies comprises three facelets in view; wherein the core comprises a plurality of turrets, to which the center cubies are rotatably engaged, wherein each of the edge cubies is selectively and rotatably draggable with one of the plurality of center cubies, whose facelet is coplanar to one of the two facelets of the edge cubie, wherein each corner cubie is selectively draggable in rotation with one of the plurality of center cubies, whose facelet is coplanar with one of the three facelets of the corner cubie, wherein each facelet of the edge cubies and of the corner cubies is enabled to switch from an inactive condition to an active condition when coplanar with the facelet of a predetermined center cubie associated thereto, wherein the active condition and the inactive condition of the facelets of the edge and corner cubies is distinguishable, and wherein the inactive condition is the same for each of the facelets of the edge and corner cubies, so that in the inactive condition the facelets of the edge and corner cubies are indistinguishable from each other.
 2. The puzzle cube according to claim 1, wherein all facelets of an edge cubie or of a corner cubie are enabled to switch simultaneously from the inactive condition to the active condition when each facelet of the edge cubie or of the corner cubie is coplanar to the facelet of the predetermined center cubie with which it is associated.
 3. The puzzle cube according to claim 1, further comprising a battery and a voltage regulator placed in the core, wherein each facelet of at least the edge cubie and the corner cubie comprises at least one light source, wherein in the active condition each facelet of the edge cubie and of the corner cubie is enlightened by the at least one light source, and wherein the voltage regulator is configured to draw voltage from the battery and to electrically power the at least one light source of each facelet of the edge cubie and of the corner cubie.
 4. The puzzle cube according to claim 3, wherein each center cubie is configured to be oriented, by rotation, in four positions relative to a respective turret, and wherein in at least one position of the four positions, the center cubie is electrically disconnected from the voltage regulator.
 5. The puzzle cube according to claim 3, wherein the core has a hole configured to accommodate a pin of a charger, and wherein the pin is configured to electrically disconnect the battery from the voltage regulator and to recharge the battery.
 6. The puzzle cube according to claim 3, wherein the core has a hole configured to accommodate a pin of a charger, and wherein the pin is configured to provide electrical power to the voltage regulator so as to electrically power the at least one light source with the charger.
 7. The puzzle cube according to claim 3, further comprising a plurality of pairs of electrical connectors comprising: first pairs of electrical connectors comprising first contacts arranged on each turret and respective second contacts arranged on the center cubies engaged on the respective turret; second pairs of electrical connectors comprising first contacts arranged on the center cubies and respective second contacts arranged on the edge cubies; and third pairs of electrical connectors comprising first contacts arranged on the edge cubies and respective second contacts arranged on the corner cubies.
 8. The puzzle cube according to claim 3, further comprising a plurality of pairs of electrical connectors, each pair of electrical connectors comprising contacts having a pinout configured to transmit electrical power from the voltage regulator to the at least one light source of each facelet of an edge cubie or of a corner cubie only when a facelet of an edge cubie or of a corner cubie is coplanar to the facelet of the predetermined center cubie with which it is associated.
 9. The puzzle cube according to claim 3, further comprising, for each turret, orientation detection means for each center cubie configured to generate a signal indicative of an angular position of each center cubie with respect to the respective turret, and further comprising a processing and control unit configured to receive and process all signals indicative of the angular position of each center cubie and to electrically power the at least one light source of each facelet based on the processed signal.
 10. The puzzle cube according to claim 1, wherein each center cubie is configured to generate a signal, each edge cubie and each corner cubie comprising a recognition unit, each recognition unit being configured to recognize the signal from the center cubie and to enable, based on the signal, each of the facelets of the edge cubies and of the corner cubies to switch from the inactive condition to the active condition.
 11. The puzzle cube according to claim 10, wherein each center cubie is configured to transmit the signal to the edge cubies adjacent thereto, each of the edge cubies being configured to further retransmit the signal to the corner cubie adjacent thereto.
 12. The puzzle cube according to claim 1, further comprising at least two functioning configurations selectable by a user, wherein a configuration is selected by a 360° rotation of a master face of the puzzle cube.
 13. The puzzle cube according to claim 12, wherein the 360° rotation of the master face is to be completed in a predetermined maximum time period of less than 2 seconds in order to allow a selection of a different functioning configuration.
 14. The puzzle cube according to claim 1, further comprising position identification means configured to recognize whether a facelet of an edge cubie or a corner cubie is coplanar to the facelet of a predetermined center cubie with which the facelet is associated, so as to enable a switching of each of the facelets of the edge cubies and of the corner cubies from the inactive condition to the active condition.
 15. The puzzle cube according to claim 1, wherein each facelet of at least the edge cubie and the corner cubie is enlightened, in the active condition, by at least one light source.
 16. The puzzle cube according to claim 15, wherein the at least one light source enlightening, in the active condition, the facelet of at least the edge cubie and the corner cubie is positioned inside a respective center cubie.
 17. The puzzle cube according to claim 15, wherein the at least one light source enlightening, in the active condition, the facelet of at least the edge cubie and the corner cubie is positioned inside the core. 